Vidarbha Cricket Team vs Kerala Cricket Team Match Scorecard

Cricket fans, get ready for an amazing story!

The vidarbha cricket team vs kerala cricket team match scorecard tells us about one of the most exciting cricket matches ever played in India.

This wasn’t just any regular game – it was the Ranji Trophy final that happened in February-March 2025.

A packed stadium in Nagpur, thousands of fans cheering, and two teams fighting for India’s biggest domestic cricket prize.

Vidarbha, the home team, wanted to win its third title. Kerala, playing their first-ever final, dreamed of making history.

The match lasted five full days, and what a rollercoaster ride it was!

Players showed incredible skill, there were nail-biting moments, and in the end, Vidarbha won by the smallest possible margin – just 37 runs on a first innings lead.

Vidarbha Cricket Team vs Kerala Cricket Team Match Scorecard

This guide will walk you through every single detail of this historic match.

Whether you’re new to cricket or a seasoned fan, you’ll understand exactly what happened on each day.

We’ll break down the scores, highlight the star performers, and explain why this match will be remembered for years to come.

Setting the Stage: Why This Match Mattered So Much

Before we dive into the actual scores, let’s understand why this match was so special for both teams.

Vidarbha’s Journey to the Final:

• Won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019
• Lost heartbreakingly to Mumbai in the previous year’s final
• Dominated the group stage with 6 wins out of 7 matches
• Beat strong teams like Tamil Nadu and Mumbai in knockouts

Kerala’s Historic Achievement:

• First time reaching a Ranji Trophy final
• Shocked everyone by topping their group
• Defeated favorites like Saurashtra are on their way
• Represented a state where football and volleyball are more popular

The venue was VCA Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur – Vidarbha’s home ground. Kerala won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping their fast bowlers would get early wickets on a fresh pitch.

Key Players to Watch:

• Yash Rathod (Vidarbha): Season’s highest run-scorer with 960 runs
• Danish Malewar (Vidarbha): 21-year-old rising star
• Karun Nair (Vidarbha): Former India player looking for a comeback
• Sachin Baby (Kerala): Experienced captain and reliable batsman
• Basil Thampi (Kerala): Fast bowler with deadly swing

The Full Vidarbha Cricket Team vs Kerala Cricket Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance

Here’s the complete breakdown of all innings in an easy-to-read table:

Innings	Team	Score	Overs	Run Rate	Result
1st Innings	Vidarbha	379/10	123.1	3.07	All out
1st Innings	Kerala	342/10	125.0	2.73	All out
2nd Innings	Vidarbha	375/9	143.5	2.61	Declared
2nd Innings	Kerala	98/5	–	–	Match drawn

Final Result: Match drawn, Vidarbha won on first innings lead (37 runs)

Top Scorers by Team:

Vidarbha	Runs	Kerala	Runs
Danish Malewar	153	Sachin Baby	98
Karun Nair	86 & 135*	Aditya Sarwate	79
Yash Rathod	38 & 45	Jalaj Saxena	28

Day 1: Vidarbha’s Solid Start – Setting the Tone

The first day set the foundation for what would become an unforgettable match. Here’s how it unfolded:

Morning Session (First 30 overs):

• Kerala’s bowlers started well with the new ball
• Basil Thampi swung the ball beautifully early on
• Vidarbha openers played carefully but confidently
• Score at lunch: 90/2

Key Moments:

• Yash Rathod fell for 38, chopping the ball onto his stumps
• Dhruv Shorey and Karun Nair rebuilt the innings perfectly
• The pitch started getting easier to bat on as the day progressed

Afternoon Session: The partnership between Shorey and Nair frustrated Kerala’s bowlers. Both batsmen showed great patience and picked their scoring opportunities wisely.

Evening Session:

• Shorey got out for 52, edging to slip
• Danish Malewar came in and immediately looked comfortable
• The crowd was electric, with families and kids waving flags

End of Day 1:

• Score: 254/4
• Malewar: 73 (not out)*
• Nair: 68 (not out)*
• Vidarbha is in a strong position

Day 2: Malewar’s Magic and Kerala’s Fightback

Day 2 belonged to the young star Danish Malewar, who played one of the best innings of his career.

Malewar’s Record-Breaking Innings:

• Started the day on 73* and went on to score 153 runs
• Hit 15 boundaries and 1 six
• Showed incredible footwork against spin bowling
• Added 215 runs with Karun Nair for the 5th wicket

How Kerala Fought Back:

• Eden Apple Tom took 3 wickets for 101 runs
• The bowlers never gave up despite the big partnership
• MD Nidheesh bowled with great discipline
• Managed to bowl out Vidarbha for 379

Kerala’s Reply Started Poorly:

• Lost both openers cheaply (15/1, 48/2)
• Aditya Sarwate and Sachin Baby steadied the ship
• Ended the day at 131/3, still trailing by 248 runs

The stadium atmosphere was incredible. Local fans created a festival-like environment that made the match feel special.

Day 3: The First-Innings Thriller – Lead Secured by a Whisker

This was the day that decided the match outcome. Every run mattered as both teams fought tooth and nail.

Kerala’s Batting Effort:

• Sachin Baby played like a wall, scoring 98 off 234 balls
• Showed tremendous concentration and patience
• Got great support from Sarwate (79) and other batsmen

Vidarbha’s Bowling Masterclass:

• Harsh Dubey created history by taking his 50th wicket of the season
• Parth Rekhade spun a web with figures of 3/65
• The spinners exploited the turning pitch perfectly

The Crucial Moment: Baby’s dismissal was the turning point. He charged down the pitch to Rekhade but skied the ball to deep midwicket. Just 2 runs short of a well-deserved century!

Kerala All Out for 342:

• Fell 37 runs short of Vidarbha’s total
• Those missed catches on Day 1 proved costly
• Small margins make big differences in cricket

Record Alert: Harsh Dubey finished with 52 wickets – the most ever in a single Ranji Trophy season!

Day 4: Vidarbha’s Second Act – Nair’s Masterclass

With a crucial first-innings lead in their pocket, Vidarbha aimed to bat Kerala out of the match completely.

Vidarbha’s Second Innings Strategy:

• Bat slowly and build a huge lead
• Tire out Kerala’s bowlers
• Leave no chance for Kerala to chase

Karun Nair’s Brilliant Knock:

• Started cautiously but grew in confidence
• Reached his century in style
• Finished the day unbeaten on 132*
• Showed why he once played for India

Other Contributions:

• Yash Rathod: 45 (solid start)
• Dhruv Shorey: 28 (got out early)
• Akshay Wadkar: 38 (captain’s knock)

End of Day 4:

• Vidarbha: 249/4
• Lead: 286 runs
• The match is slipping away from Kerala

The pitch was getting easier to bat on, making Kerala’s bowling task even harder. Their bowlers looked tired after bowling nearly 200 overs across two innings.

Day 5: Declaration, Drama, and the Trophy Lift

The final day was all about Vidarbha sealing the victory and Kerala trying to save face.

Morning Session:

• Nair continued his masterful innings
• Reached 135 not out – a truly special knock
• Vidarbha pushed the lead beyond 350 runs

The Declaration:

• Vidarbha declared at 375/9
• Set Kerala a target of 413 runs
• Only about 60 overs are left in the match

Kerala’s Impossible Chase:

• Needed over 6 runs per over
• Started aggressively but lost wickets quickly
• Managed only 98/5 when stumps were called

The Trophy Presentation:

• Akshay Wadkar lifted the trophy amid thunderous applause
• “Veedarbha!” chants filled the entire stadium
• Emotional scenes as players celebrated with their families

What the Captains Said:

• Wadkar: “This is a dream come true for all of us”
• Baby: “We’re proud of reaching the final, but we’ll be back stronger”

Key Performers: Stars Who Shone Brightest

Let’s look at the players who made this match truly memorable:

Vidarbha’s Heroes:

Player	Role	Key Performance	Impact
Karun Nair	Batsman	86 & 135*	Player of the Match
Danish Malewar	Batsman	153 & 40	Future star announcement
Harsh Dubey	Spinner	3/88 & record 52 wickets	Season’s best bowler

Kerala’s Brave Hearts:

Player	Role	Key Performance	Impact
Sachin Baby	Captain/Batsman	98	Led from the front
Aditya Sarwate	All-rounder	79 & bowling figures	Fought till the end
Basil Thampi	Fast Bowler	Early breakthroughs	Kept Kerala in the game

Special Mentions:

• Yash Rathod: Season’s highest run-scorer (960 runs)
• Parth Rekhade: Crucial 3/65 in first innings
• Eden Apple Tom: Kerala’s best bowler with 3/101

What We Learned: Cricket’s Beautiful Lessons

This incredible match taught us several important lessons about cricket and life:

For Young Players:

• Age is just a number – Malewar at 21 proved he belongs at the top level
• Patience pays off – Nair’s comeback story shows persistence works
• Every opportunity matters – One good performance can change your career

For Teams:

• Home advantage is real – Vidarbha’s knowledge of local conditions helped
• Team balance wins matches – Both teams had good batting and bowling units
• Small moments decide big matches – Those dropped catches cost Kerala dearly

For Cricket Fans:

• Domestic cricket is the real heartbeat of Indian cricket
• Every player has a story worth following
• Underdogs can achieve greatness with belief and hard work

Wrapping Up: Why This Final Will Linger

The vidarbha cricket team vs kerala cricket team match scorecard will be remembered as one of the greatest Ranji Trophy finals ever played. Here’s why this match was so special:

Historic Achievements:

• Vidarbha’s third title in recent years
• Kerala’s first-ever final appearance
• Harsh Dubey’s wicket-taking record
• The closest possible winning margin

Human Stories:

• A 21-year-old’s breakout performance (Malewar)
• A veteran’s redemption story (Nair)
• An underdog state’s brave fight (Kerala)
• A captain’s promise fulfilled (Wadkar)

Cricket Lessons: The scorecard shows us that cricket is more than just numbers. Every run, every wicket, and every catch matters. The difference between winning and losing was just 37 runs – proving that small moments create big memories.

Looking Forward: Both teams have bright futures. Vidarbha has proven they can develop talent and win consistently. Kerala has shown they belong at the top level and will surely be back stronger.

Final Thoughts: As the players shook hands and the crowd slowly left the stadium, everyone knew they had witnessed something special. The vidarbha cricket team vs kerala cricket team match scorecard isn’t just a record of runs and wickets – it’s a story of dreams, determination, and the beautiful game of cricket.

This match reminded us why we love cricket. It’s not always about the biggest stars or the most money. Sometimes, the best stories come from small towns and young dreamers who refuse to give up.

For cricket fans everywhere, this final was a perfect example of why domestic cricket deserves our attention and respect. Every player who stepped onto that field had worked years to get there, and their efforts created memories that will last forever.

The trophy went to Vidarbha, but cricket was the real winner that week in Nagpur.

Reference Links for Cricket Fans:

• BCCI Official Website – Latest cricket news and scores
• ESPN Cricinfo – Detailed match analysis and statistics
• ICC Official Site – International cricket updates and rankings
• Winners Zine – Latest Cricket Updates